Model features include:
Photo courtesy J Schulz
Flanged smokestack, white wheel rims, red lining
Photo courtesy D Egan Collection
Flanged smokestack, white wheel rims, red lining
Photo courtesy NRM Collection
Flanged smokestack
Photo courtesy NRM Collection
Stovepipe, white wheel rims
Photo courtesy NRM Collection
Stovepipe
Photo courtesy D Colquhoun
Flanged smokestack
Photo courtesy NRM Collection
Flanged smokestack
Photo courtesy NRM Collection
Stovepipe, logo
If you find that your F Class loco is running jerkily or the lights are flickering it may be due to excessive grease on the driving axles.
Track power is transferred directly from the driving wheel axles to the chassis and then to the motor, but we have found that unfortunately some
locos have had the axles over-greased at the factory, interfering with the flow of power.
If you follow this procedure you should find that the
overall running quality of the loco improves dramatically.
Using a needle applicator or toothpick to access between the wheel and loco chassis apply a few drops of track cleaning fluid to the drive wheel axle.
Repeat for all six drive wheels as shown below.
The two rear axles can be pushed to one side for easy access, but the front axle with the unflanged wheels has less play and is harder to get at.
Once all six wheels have been done, run the loco for a few minutes to allow the cleaning to fully take effect.
Repeat if necessary.
Alternatively you can bring your loco into the store and we will perform this procedure for you free of charge!
The F class tank loco is a very important locomotive of the classic S.A.R. period. At the beginning of the 20th century it became obvious that the existing small locomotives were no longer sufficient to pull the heavier trains on an increasing suburban network. But rather than sourcing existing designs from overseas, our famous Islington Workshops built an initial prototype in 1902. Two more were built by James Martin in 1904, before production started in earnest from 1908. By 1922 a total of 43 engines had been built which provided the backbone of suburban transport up until successively being replaced by the Redhen railcars. In the later years they still provided services on metropolitan goods trains and shunting duties with two units still in service in 1967.
Over the years the F class has undergone the usual modifications. Most notable the adding of hungry boards to increase coal capacity, shifting the pump and different stacks. In the later years some were converted to oil firing, which added a rather ugly contraption to the back of the locomotive. Three have been preserved to this day.
Photo courtesy NRM Collection
